Vance Airmen part of AF team's stunning rugby victory

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Imran Khan
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affaris
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Two Vance Airmen were part of the U.S. Air Force Rugby team that defeated Navy, 37-8, winning the 2008 Armed Forces Rugby Championship Nov. 21 at Fort Benning, Ga.

The Air Force finished the tournament undefeated, with a perfect 5-0 record.

U.S. Air Force Academy Rugby teammates, Capt. Joshua Dean of the 8th Flying Training Squadron and Capt. Ryan Wilmes of the 25th FTS, helped the Air Force.

This is also the fifth consecutive year that Air Force Rugby has won this tournament, outscoring its opponents this year 249 to 19.

After four years on the academy team, Captain Dean took a break from rugby for undergraduate pilot training. He resumed his rugby career when he became a Vance first assignment instructor pilot by playing in rugby clubs in Oklahoma City.

In March 2007, Captain Dean tried out for the Air Force Rugby Team. He was so impressive during his tryout that he made both the U.S. National Team and the Air Force Rugby Team. Captain Dean was named to the all-tournament team for the 2008 Armed Services Tournament. He was the team's most valuable player during the Air Force vs. Navy match in the tournament.

Now a T-38 Talon instructor pilot, Captain Wilmes played rugby three years at the academy. After the academy he was named All-American and earned an automatic bid onto the Air Force Rugby Team. Captain Wilmes also took a break from rugby during UPT, but kept in touch with his coaches and teammates.

In 2008, he joined many of his academy teammates to play for the Air Force team. "My favorite part of playing this year was obviously winning" said Captain Wilmes. "But more importantly it was seeing a lot of old friends that I rarely get the chance to see. It brings back some good memories and reminds me of how much fun it is to play"

To get in shape for the big event, Captain Dean trained with Captain Wilmes by throwing the ball, lifting and running. Captain Dean attributes the Air Force Rugby team's success to, "good continuity and good players. I liked playing with the guys, and especially winning," he said.